Swine Flu

[DavidS]

Thank you
This is much more helpful and of a professional standard one would expect from your profession.

Look, this isn't a shop. This is where we let the hair - that we haven't torn out - down. We enjoy answering questions, but if you have problems with our attitudes you can always go elsewhere, its NOT our problem.

More answers:

(1) Is the method of spread actually known? Is it definitely by inhalation and or by contact?
(2) If you extrapolate the Mexico figures from April (70 deaths), the figure today would be about 3,000. This has not been reported. In fact the figure in the BBC link is 119. Why?
(3) I have read that taking large doses of vitamin D may help prevent complications. Does anyone agree with this.
(4) What can I do to ensure my family avoid catching this virus?

1. Yrs, by spreading droplets as described. These can be carried on dust as well, so inhalation is a possibility, but doorknobs etc more likely.
2. They didn't have tamiflu, and their standard of health is probably less than ours to start with. Also they are a different ethnic group, so I would expect some differences. These are guesses.
3. No idea. Where have you read this?
4. Its mild at the moment: it can only get worse. Controversial advice would be to catch it early before it mutates again into something really nasty. In the meantime, prepare yourself for it by staying fit and healthy, and eating well.

Good luck.

[LeftArm]

There is loads of information available:

Currently most of the information is given by the Government

BBC swine flu site
World Health Organisation
Health Protection Agency
NHS website

Although you may consider some of these as government departments. If your looking for a magic shield or cure then I think you are out of luck.

Tin foil helmets may help.

[DavidS]

Tin foil helmets may help.

Steady, Not only might you get a tongue-lashing for frivolity of inholms, but many of the great English speaking persons might believe you, which would make the UK look a bit like an early episode of Dr Who.

[inholms]

3. No idea. Where have you read this?

Here is the link Swine Flu Prevention and Treatment, Can Vitamin D help? Vitamin D Prescription- Health Benefits of Vitamin D

Maybe its that or a tin helmet!

[inholms]

2. They didn't have tamiflu, and their standard of health is probably less than ours to start with. Also they are a different ethnic group, so I would expect some differences. These are guesses.

Are you saying that initially they did not have tamiflu, but as time went on, those at risk were then given it? If that is the case it's a pretty good demonstration of how effective it is.

[DavidS]

Are you saying that initially they did not have tamiflu, but as time went on, those at risk were then given it? If that is the case it's a pretty good demonstration of how effective it is.

Well, that will teach me not to guess! Excellent points you raise, and I don't have an answer.

I think Tamiflu has been shown to be pretty effective, but there are some suggestions that some people are not responding to it as well as might be expected.

I do suspect that, it being the first place, they weren't adequately prepared, but, as I say, I don't know for sure. Anyone else ....

Studies have shown that those with higher vitamin D blood levels are less likely to contract the typical avian influenza most of us are familiar with. This is why most get the flu in the winter and spring, when sunlight and blood vitamin D levels are at their lowest. I suspect the results will be similar for the swine flu.

Fortunately, summer is approaching and the sun will be generating more vitamin D in people as the UV-B light rays get absorbed by our skin. I expect this epidemic will be short lived, pray for a heat wave as it may be the best medicine. I recommend at least 2,000 IU daily of a vitamin D supplement also for possible prevention.

The above, taken from the link you provided, is certainly news to me. Sounds like cheap insurance, and I will be making sure I take it from today on. Thanks for that.

Fortunately for my customers, my modelling skills are not equal to the task of constructing a tin helmet.

Inholms, I must say that when I saw you had replied to my post I thought I was going to get involved in a row! I obviously misjudged you, and would like to apologise for my earlier petulance.

[LeftArm]

I am not a pharmacist and cannot give any medical evidence for the effectiveness of tin foil helmets in the prevention of swine flu

The domain name vitamind-prescription.com belongs to Eric Madrid of California US. He is also the registered owner of the domain ehealthsupplies dot com.
If you go to this site you will see on the home page this product

His name is on the packet. [edit] Actually it's a book

You'll have to excuse my scepticism but I think this may be a money making ploy designed to pray on the fears that a pandemic creates.

[LeftArm]

To be fair to Dr Eric Madrid I have read up on some of the info on his site he and Dr John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council do provide a compelling case.
I still remain sceptical as there seems large support from only a few doctors and the theory is not well supported on other sites.

However I would have to concede that the book and it's premise have been around longer than the Swine Flu epidemic.

[inholms]

Well, that will teach me not to guess! Excellent points you raise, and I don't have an answer.

I think Tamiflu has been shown to be pretty effective, but there are some suggestions that some people are not responding to it as well as might be expected.

I do suspect that, it being the first place, they weren't adequately prepared, but, as I say, I don't know for sure. Anyone else ....




The above, taken from the link you provided, is certainly news to me. Sounds like cheap insurance, and I will be making sure I take it from today on. Thanks for that.

Fortunately for my customers, my modelling skills are not equal to the task of constructing a tin helmet.

Inholms, I must say that when I saw you had replied to my post I thought I was going to get involved in a row! I obviously misjudged you, and would like to apologise for my earlier petulance.

No offence taken
I must say that I did go in rather heavy handed, so I don’t blame you for your petulance, I would have reacted the same way. I was getting frustrated at not being able to get any answers. I’m glad that we are now on the ‘same wave length’ and look forward to many more (friendly) discussions.

I think there is a ring of logic to the vitamin D debate, but I would welcome an independent view.

[Pharmanaut]

No offence taken
I must say that I did go in rather heavy handed, so I don’t blame you for your petulance, I would have reacted the same way. I was getting frustrated at not being able to get any answers. I’m glad that we are now on the ‘same wave length’ and look forward to many more (friendly) discussions.

I think there is a ring of logic to the vitamin D debate, but I would welcome an independent view.

Well, we never pooh-pooh something that sounds logical.
Always wondered why influenza did the rounds in winter rather than summer.
Perhaps the Vit-D thing might be part of the answer?
You could equally say that the spring-summer diet differed from the autumn-winter diet. And that historically stored food was less nutritious?
Not sure if this applies nowadays with frozen and flown in stuff?
Just speculating - it might be a total nonsense.